Robert T. Motts was an African American saloon owner and gambling racket leader, who established and managed Chicago's Pekin Theatre, an epicenter of African-American theater. Motts was an organizer in the Republican Party.[1] He also owned theaters in New York City.[2]
Robert T. Motts | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 24, 1861 Iowa |
| Died | July 11, 1911 (aged 50) Chicago, Illinois |
| Resting place | Washington, Iowa |
| Other names | Bob Motts |
| Known for | Owner of the Pekin Theatre |
Early life edit
Motts was born on June 24, 1861.[3] His father, Thomas Motts, was a coal dealer in Muscatine, Iowa and died during the Civil War.[3][4] His mother moved the five children to Washington, Iowa. At the age of 18, Motts left for St. Louis and later Chicago, where he worked odd jobs and then as a coachman for four years.[3]
Career edit
After the World's Fair of 1893, he invested in a saloon on 2700 State Street, owned by Snowden and Beasley.[3] Eventually he bought out his business partners' shares and began to develop the Pekin Theatre.[3]
A court order in New York enjoined Motts' theaters from having a show that infringed on a similarly named show.[2]
Death edit
Motts' health began to decline, but he continued to devote his time to managing the theatre.[5] He arranged for his sister, Lucy Jackson, to have joint ownership of the business and eventually sold his last interest in the business before his death.[5]
Motts died at his home on Calumet Avenue on July 11, 1911 from splenic leucemia.[3] Motts' funeral was a major affair.[6] Services were held at Quinn Chapel and Motts was interred in Washington, Iowa.[7][4]
References edit
- ^ Kenney, William Howland (October 27, 1994). Chicago Jazz: A Cultural History, 1904-1930. Oxford University Press. p. 9. ISBN 978-0-19-535778-3. Archived from the original on October 11, 2021. Retrieved October 8, 2021 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b Goncourt, Edmond de; Goncourt, Jules de (1956). "New York Supreme Court". p. 589. Archived from the original on 2021-10-11. Retrieved 2021-10-08 – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c d e f Hawkins, J.E. (1920-05-08). "The Negro and Chicago, Past and Present". The Chicago Whip. p. 8.
- ^ a b Cook County, Illinois, U.S., Deaths Index, 1878-1922
- ^ a b Hawkins, J.E. (1920-05-29). "The Negro and Chicago, Past and Present". The Chicago Whip. p. 8.
- ^ [1] [dead link]
- ^ Hawkins, J.E. (1920-06-29). "The Negro and Chicago, Past and Present". The Chicago Whip. p. 8.
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